Brassiere



April 4, 1944. c, E ZIMMERMAN ET AL 2,345,649

BRASSIRE Filed Dec. 4, 1939 MM; Mm@

Patented Apr. 4, 1944 2,345,649 BnAssiEnE Charles E. Zimmerman and John F. Skold, Chicago, Ill.; said Skold assigner to said Zimmerman Application December 4, 1939, Serial No. 307,406

2 Claims. (Cl. 2-267) This invention relates to womens garments, and includes among its objects and advantages an improvement in both comfort and appearance in connection with womens brassires or breast supporters, particularly of the type including' support means for modifying the normal contour of each individual breast.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a rear view of a brassire according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a partial section on line 2-2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a section similar to Figure 2 indieating a modification in shape.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration in Figures 1, 2, and 3, the brassire comprises a conventional fabric body I which may be supported by conventional straps I2 and fastened in place circumferentially by strap means I4. In position to register with each individual breast there is provided a fabric pocket I6. In the case of relatively stiff fabrics, this pocket may need to be formed of several pieces cut and sewed together to approximate the shape in actual use as indicated in Figure 2, and with slightly more flexible fabrics less precise adaptation of shape will be needed. The circumferential edge of the fabric pocket I6 is provided with an inwardly extending flap I8, and because this material lies substantially all in the same plane, its inner edge is built to carry enough tension so that the rubber insert will be heldin place in the pocket.

The insert indicated in Figure 2 is a main body 20 shaped to the desired configuration. Across the base of the body 20 and united therewith, as by rubber cement, there is provided a diaphragm 22, which diaphragm is much thinner and hence more flexible than the body 20, and when not in place on the wearer lies substantially all in one at plane. Depending on the size of the natural breast of the wearer, the diaphragm 22- will be flexed out to a greater or less degree as indicated in Figure 2, and it is suiliciently flexible to ex locally at 24 so that there is no particular pressure on the wearers nipple which might be uncomfortable.

All the rubber parts shown are of the particular grade of rubber commonly referred to in the trade as Airfoam rubber, that is, porous or cellular latex rubber. More speciiically, the Airfoam rubber latex should have a density of less than .0080 pound per cubic inch and should be completely permeated with open pores of Various sizes, including a large number of almost microscopic pores and a slightly smaller number of larger pores up to a maximum of the order of magnitude of 0.075 inch in diameter. It will be noted that the diaphragm 22 is exposed to and lies directly against the skin of the wearer without any intervening fabric cover of any sort. The particular grade of rubber herein specied differs from conventional sponge rubber in that air and other fluids pass through it much more readily and in that it has a soft and clinging action in contact with the skin, but the thermal conductivity of the combined rubber and air pores is so low that radiation or conduction of heat to or from the skin is almost negligible. The result of this is that within a few seconds after the garyment is .put in position there is no conscious sensation of heat or cold. Because the thin diaphragm 22 is extremely flexible and of barely sucient mechanical strength to sustain the negligible Weight load imposed on it by the portion of the wearers body in contact with it, there is no appreciable sensation of pressure or distortion anywhere.

Figure 3 indicates the freedom with which the wearer can select various external shapes for the body 20 without any other modication in the device or its use. The modified'body 26 has the protuberance 28 below the axial center of the device in a position more closely approximating the position it would occupy in a normal breast of the size corresponding to the -body 26, but the inner diaphragm 22 and its cooperative relation with the actual breast of the wearer remain unchanged.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain our invention that others may, by applying knowledge current at the time of application, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service. It will, for instance, be obvious that all but the outer edge portions of the pocket i6 could be omitted, leaving the bare rubber, which is white and of a fleshlike texture, and would create the illusion of flesh when seen from a slight distance or through other layers of rather diaphanous cloth.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A womans breast support comprising a main resilient cup-shaped body formed throughout of' porous or cellular latex rubber and havlngits outer face shaped to simulate a breast, and a thin resilient diaphragm also oi' porous or cellular latex rubber connected marginally to' and subtending the base of said body and arranged so that it is substantially flat when the support is not in use, said diaphragm being of such thinness and character that it is adapted to ex into the interior oi' the body when in use. to the extent necessary to receive the actual breast oi' the wearer and also to press but gently against it. the cavity in said body being large enough to leave an air space between said diaphragm and body when said support is in use.

2. A womans breast support comprising la main resilient cup-shaped comparatively thin body necessary to receive the actual breast of the wearer and to -press but gently against it.

CHARLES E. ZMAERMAN. JOHN F. BKOLD. 

